Lust for Life

Released Sep 17, 1956

2 hr. 2 min.

Biography

List

80%

15 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

This lauded drama depicts the life of revered Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh (Kirk Douglas). An intense and imaginative artist, Van Gogh possesses undeniable talent, but he is plagued by mental problems and frustrations with failure. Supported by his brother, Theo (James Donald), the tormented Van Gogh eventually leaves Holland for France, where he meets volatile fellow painter Paul Gauguin (Anthony Quinn) and struggles to find greater inspiration.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Apr 16

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Lust for Life on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

david f

This is a lushly made film about Vincent Van Gogh, where the artistry and technique of the film matches and overlaps with Van Gogh's.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Robert H

If not for John Wayne (as Genghis Khan!) in The Conqueror, this would be the most comical casting decision in motion picture history. While watching it I did not slice off my ear but I was sorely tempted to gouge out my eyes.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/13/22

Full Review

Shioka O

Beautiful film, but not enjoyable, maybe because a bit overwhelming to look at. Kirk Douglas is really good. Almost Gogh became Douglas.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/31/22

Full Review

Wade O

This movie is an absolute masterpiece! The acting of Douglas and Quinn are exceptional, especially when combined with the music score and spectacular scenery. Then add in Van Gogh's artwork and his struggles with mental illness, much less understood at the time, and you have movie art Van Gogh himself would be proud of. There's a perfect blend of quality acting, scenery, music, and storytelling that give you an appreciation for the artist and the time period he lived. I rarely watch movies over and over, but I keep coming back to this one.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/23/22

Full Review

Audience Member

This is the movie he should have won best actor oscar for, definantly his strongest performance and most intence sceans , too bad the acadamy was so predgidest toward certain actors during the 50 and 60's..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

No matter how historically accurate it is, the explosive acting from Kirk Douglas and the scenery-chewing Anthony Quinn makes it well worth watching! Come for the painting-like scenery, stay for the explosive Anthony Quinn, who proves here why he deserved the Supporting Actor Oscar!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Vincente Minnelli

Director

Kirk Douglas

Vincent Van Gogh

Anthony Quinn

Paul Gauguin

Everett Sloane

Dr. Gachet

James Donald

Theo Van Gogh

Pamela Brown

Christine

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

86%

75%

I'll Cry Tomorrow

86%

86%

Somebody Up There Likes Me

40%

56%

The Wings of Eagles

89%

80%

The Stratton Story

83%

53%

The Magnificent Yankee

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Vernon Young

Arts Digest

By way of summary it should suffice if I declare that the film Lust for Life is monstrously inept. Its account -- no warmer word is appropriate -- of the life and art of one Vincent Van Gogh is not so much wrong as it is wrong-headed -- or wrong-hearted.

Jan 30, 2024

Full Review

George Elkind

Metro Times (Detroit, MI)

...here it feels more than right to leave that work to Douglas. And it's precisely that kind of measure and reserve that makes Minnelli a realist artist himself — albeit a realist of a different kind.

Oct 7, 2022

Full Review

André Bazin

L'Éducation Nationale

I cannot say much that is positive... The worst is avoided here, yes, but can we say that the image offered of van Gogh and his life is designed to enlighten us both about his work in particular and about the problems of artistic creation in general?

Dec 9, 2021

Full Review

Rosa Parra

Latinx Lens

A visually gorgeous telling of Van Gogh's story told by two extraordinary performances from Quinn and Douglas. Successfully balances the chaotic mentally unstable circumstances from Van Gogh with its peaceful scenery.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 24, 2021

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

It's a noble effort, but one that now seems constrained by Hollywood convention, and is too eager to embrace "tortured artist" cliches at their most histrionic.

Apr 2, 2021

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Creative Loafing

The Best Actor Oscar that year went to Yul Brynner for his broad emoting in The King and I, but Douglas -- in one of the defining performances of his career -- would have been a far more deserving winner.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 25, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

This lauded drama depicts the life of revered Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh (Kirk Douglas). An intense and imaginative artist, Van Gogh possesses undeniable talent, but he is plagued by mental problems and frustrations with failure. Supported by his brother, Theo (James Donald), the tormented Van Gogh eventually leaves Holland for France, where he meets volatile fellow painter Paul Gauguin (Anthony Quinn) and struggles to find greater inspiration.

Director: Vincente Minnelli
Screenwriter: Norman Corwin
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Sound Mix: Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now